Former glory: The Jaguar E-Type is one of the finest cars to come from Britain

Sought after classic cars have soared in value in recent years according to a specialist underwriter, with motors from the 1950 and 60s having the most uplift.

Alongside classic cars, there has also been strong growth in fine art as people move away from volatile gold, according to Lloyd’s of London based White Oak Underwriting Agency,

The classic car market is robust and is proving a popular alternative investment for higher net worth clients, the firm says.

Patricia
Watling, the company’s jewellery and fine arts underwriter, said: ‘We
keep a watchful eye on market developments, and both fine art and
classic car values are doing very well.

'But
we are aware that gold, traditionally a core holding for high net worth
clients wanting additional investments outside of standard investments,
is volatile.

'We are seeing very high prices achieved at classic car auctions for exclusive marques such as Ferrari and Aston Martin, especially cars from the 1950s with racing provenance and in exceptional original or restored condition.

'E-Type Jaguars, which have always held their price well even during the recession are now becoming almost unaffordable for many buyers.

'We are seeing prices rise from £30,000-£40,000 a few years ago soar to the £120,000 mark for prime mid-1960s examples.'

While fine art, classic cars, vintage wine and precious stones have all broadly enjoyed rising values in the past 12 months according to WOUA, gold has not fared so well.

Back in May 2013, it was trading at around £830 per ounce, but today’s price is now £750.At its highest point in August 2011, prices reached £1,160. As a result, people are turning to alternatives.

Here are five classic cars that have grown in value the most in recent years according to WOUA and top end examples will be the those in the best condition.

Jaguar E-Type

Price now: £120,000

Price 2011: £30,000-£40,000

One of the most iconic and sought after British cars to ever, the E-Type frequently tops polls as most beautiful motors of all time. Assembled in Coventry between 1961 and 1975, as with all of the cars in this list, the better condition and older the vehicle, the higher the price.

According to website howmanyleft.co.uk, 3,400 E-Types are currently licenced on British roads – slightly higher than the figure ten years ago, while nearly 1,000 have a SORN, meaning they are off the road.

Aston Martin DB5 Sport Saloon

Price now: £320,000

Price 2011: £140,000

Aston Martin DB5

The DB5 will always be associated with a number of James Bond films, including Sean Connery in Goldfinger in the 1960s all the way to the most recent spy flick, Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig.

According to the howmanyleft website, there are 276 licenced on British roads – a figure that has remained pretty static in the last ten years, while 45 have a SORN.

Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur

Price now: £70,000

Price 2011: £44,000

The Bentley S2 was made between 1959 until 1962. The above example was part of an auction from singer Elton John, who had it since the 1970s - it sold for £67,500 in 2001.

The howmanyleft website doesn't list the S2, suggesting that the number left in good condition could be very low.

Triumph Stag

Price now: £10,000

Price 2011: £5,000

Triumph Stag

Roughly 25,000 of these were built during the 1970s and they have become a cult vehicle in classic car circles in recent years, partly because there are still bargain examples to be found.

According to howmanyleft.co.uk, there are 2,500 Stags licenced on British roads and interestingly, nearly the same number are have a SORN, suggesting a few may be locked away in garages gathering dust.

Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII Phase II Convertible

Price now: £40,000

Price 2011: £22,000

These quirky little two-seater cars were built in Abingdon in the mid-1960s - the third generation Austin-Healy 3000 has gained the most value and statistics show just over 17,000 were built.

Much like the Stag, this motor has won the heart of many a motor enthusiast and as a result, good examples have become highly sought after.

CLASSIC CARS TIPS

Don’t
forget if you are looking to buy a classic car, give it all the checks
you would if you were buying a ‘standard’ car. This includes:

- Looking at all paperwork and documentation.

- Taking it for a road test to check for any faults, especially in the engine.

- Checking essentials such as lights, tyres and suspension is up to scratch.

- Importantly for a classic car is looking for signs of rust and other wear and tear around the bodywork.

-
Investigating how much insurance would be for the car, to make sure you
are not quoted sky-high prices which would make the motor uneconomical
for you to drive.

Beyond
that you ideally want to seek the advice of owners' clubs and get a
specialist to look round the car for you, especially if it is a very
expensive one.

HAVE YOUR
SAY: Do you own a classic motor? What model did you buy, how much did it
set you back and how long have you had it? What tips would you give
readers who may be looking at purchasing a classic motor? Do you own one of the cars above? Let us know in the comments section below.